Charity tourney to honor woman

This year’s Knights of Columbus charity golf tournament is dedicated to a woman.

It’s the first time in its 11-year history that the Marquette Council No. 815 is honoring a woman with the tournament.

But not just any woman. Florence Holton, who died in 2013, was the first woman elected to the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors and originated the idea of a Chamber women’s division.

For 10 years, she also served as resident manager of the Knights of Columbus Hall on North Summit Avenue. In that role, said tournament director Mike Kirby, she supervised every dinner, wedding and social event held there for a decade.

“She was caring, loving, a great listener and dedicated to the Knights of Columbus and her family,” Kirby said.

John Schreurs, also a director for the Aug. 9 tournament, described Holton as a leader in the city.

“She was kind of a maverick,” Schreurs said. “She kind of did things her own way, but everybody really respected Florence in the community. She opened a lot of doors in Sioux Falls for women.”

Usually, the Marquette Council No. 815 honors a recently deceased member, or knight, of the Catholic men’s fraternal organization with his name on the golf tournament, Kirby said. This year, because of Holton’s devotion to the Knights of Columbus, it was decided to honor her.

The Knights of Columbus’ goal is to help the community, youths, veterans, the handicapped and the Roman Catholic Church in any way it can, Kirby said. It was formed in 1882 in Connecticut to support widows and their children.

The local council uses the funds it raises through the annual golf tournament to assist four different programs. Money donated to The Banquet is used to serve breakfast, while the Veterans Administration hospital has used funding to send veterans to Pierre for dedication of the Vietnam Memorial.

St. Francis House, a temporary shelter, has used the donations to expand its facilities, and the Knights of Columbus disaster relief fund has assisted past tornado and flood victims.

Marquette Council No. 815 has more than 250 members, Kirby said.

The golf tournament is open to the public. Registration will take place 30 minutes before the 7:30 and 10 a.m. shotgun starts Aug. 9